The windows throughout your home open up to the outdoors, a way to let light in as you appreciate the view of your garden, yard or other surroundings. The last thing you need to see is a sweaty window coated in a layer of condensation.

Not only are windows coated in condensation unappealing, they also can be a sign of a larger air-quality problem inside your home. Fortunately, there’s several things you can do to resolve the problem.

What Produces Condensation in Windows

Condensation on the interior of windows is formed by the damp warm air throughout your home hitting the colder surface of the windows. It’s especially commonplace during the winter when it’s much cooler outside than it is inside your home.

Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes

When talking about condensation, it’s crucial to know the difference between moisture on the inside of your windows versus moisture in between the windowpanes. One is an air-quality issue and the other is a window issue.

  • Moisture on the inside of a window is produced from the warm moist air throughout your home forming against the glass.
  • The moisture you notice between windowpanes is caused when the window seal breaks down and moisture seeps between the two panes of glass, in which case the window needs to be repaired or replaced.
  • Condensation on the inside of the windows isn’t a window issue and can instead be resolved by fine-tuning the humidity across your home. Numerous things produce humidity inside a home, such as showers, cooking, taking a bath or even breathing.

Why Condensation on Windows Can Be Trouble

Even though you might presume condensation in your windows is a cosmetic issue, it can be a sign your home has high humidity. If that’s the case, water could also be condensing on window frames, cold walls or other surfaces. Even a small film of water can encourage wood surfaces to mildew or rot over time, increasing the growth of mildew or mold.

How to Reduce Humidity in Your Home

Not to worry, because there are several options for extracting moisture from the air in your home.

If you have a humidifier running within your home – whether it be a smaller unit or a whole-house humidifier – lower it further so the humidity inside your home goes down.

If you don’t have a humidifier going and your home’s humidity level is higher than you prefer, look into getting a dehumidifier. While humidifiers put moisture inside your home so the air doesn’t become too dry, a dehumidifier draws excess moisture out of the air.

Compact, portable dehumidifiers can eliminate the water from a single room. However, those units require emptying out water trays and usually service a fairly small area. A whole-house dehumidifier will eliminate moisture across your entire home.

Whole-house dehumidifier systems are regulated by a humidistat, which allows you to establish a humidity level the same like you would pick a temperature via your thermostat. The unit will begin running instantly when the humidity level surpasses the set level. These systems collaborate with your home’s HVAC system, so you will want to contact qualified professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation .

Other Ways to Decrease Condensation on Windows

  • Exhaust fans. Adding exhaust fans near humidity hotspots such as the bathroom, laundry room or above the stove can help by extracting the warm, moist air from these areas out of your home before it can elevate the humidity level inside your home.
  • Ceiling fans. Spinning ceiling fans can also keep air swirling throughout the home so humid air doesn’t get trapped in one area.
  • Open window treatments. Opening the blinds or drapes can lower condensation by preventing the warm air from being trapped against the windowpane.

By decreasing humidity across your home and moving air throughout your home, you can enjoy clear, moisture-free windows even in the winter.